B.C. toxic drug deaths ‘largely preventable,’ coroner says, amid push for expanded safer supply access
While as many as 225,000 British Columbians are estimated to use unregulated substances, fewer than 5,000 per month receive safer supply prescriptions
Wednesday, November 1, 2023
The BC Coroners Service is urging the province to “immediately pursue” expanded access to safer supply as a new report on toxic drug deaths finds many of them have been “largely preventable.” The Coroners Service says in a statement that it is pushing the government to increase access for those who are at risk of “significant injury or death” to receive the safer supply without a prescription. “The experts on the panel were thoughtful, committed, and practical in identifying an approach that we feel can guide future efforts to expand access to viable alternatives to an illicit supply of substances that is only increasing in volatility and toxicity.” (See also: B.C. Coroner’s death panel recommends issuing drugs without prescription to stop overdoses | B.C. rejects coroner panel’s call to expand access to safer-supply program)
